John Saul Ruby Mine, TanzaniaThe first gemstone deposits found in East Africa were in Longido, Tanzania. Their production was generally small or of poor quality gems. However, a fantastic mid-1970s discovery of chromium-rich rock yielded not only some wonderful green tourmalines but some wonderful rubies, also colored by chromium, which required no enhancement.

The color of these stones was splendid and their quality put East Africa on the map of gem-producing countriesright up there with Burma and Sri Lanka. Indeed some of the rubies from the mine were of such a fine distinctive shade of ruby-red which would later become a standard of quality. To cutters around the world the expression "johnsaul" simply grew to mean "very fine red" when it came to describing rubies. It is said that Van Cleef and Arpels bought a very large portion of the production of this mine at the time.

The present stone, an unenhanced cabochon ruby is an excellent example of classic, natural material from this famed mine. The color is virtually incandescent with a deep inner glow which should appeal to the connoisseur of fine rubies. A classic gem for the locality, this high-domed oval cabochon displays a vibrant and rich red color. Its substantial size would allow it to be easily mounted as a ring. Weighing approximately 6.33 carats and measuring 10.0 x 9.0 x 6.0mm

Footnotes

Accompanied by an American Gemological Laboratory report no. CS 52192 dated November 8, 2012 stating that the 6.33 carats oval cabochon ruby is natural and unheated.

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